Ex-BBC journalist David Kerr accused of �snobbery�Tom Gordon, Scottish Political Editor
THE SNP's campaign in the Glasgow North East by-election stumbled again yesterday after a recording emerged of its latest candidate sneering at a local university.
David Kerr scoffed that Glasgow Caledonian, which sits on the edge of the seat, was so bad it didn't "have a reputation to tarnish."
The ex-BBC journalist, who attended Scotland's oldest university, St Andrews, said the same about "Paisley Tech", now known as the University of the West of Scotland.
Kerr, 35, was also recorded doing a camp impersonation of John Knox, the 16th-century Protestant reformer and founder of Presbyterianism.
"You Catholics! What are you like? You're mad!" he joked in a high, mincing voice. He added: "He was obviously an angry man because Rangers hadn't won the league for a while."
The comments were made in a talk to the St Andrews University Canmore Catholic Society in February 2007, which was put on the internet.
A member of the devout Catholic group Opus Dei for seven years, Kerr also said you could "set your watch by" BBC documentaries "attacking the Catholic Church".
Labour accused Kerr of being a "snob" and out of touch with the constituency, one of the most deprived in the UK.
An SNP spokeswoman described Kerr's remarks as "rather jovial".
Kerr, the SNP's third choice after two Glasgow councillors pulled out, was finally confirmed as the candidate on Friday.
In his 2007 talk to St Andrews students, Kerr discussed John Knox's time in the Fife town.
"Legend has it he was a St Andrews graduate, but I'm sure that's not true," he said.
"I've always liked to think it was Paisley Tech ... or Glasgow Caledonian. They don't have a reputation to tarnish."
According to Glasgow Caledonian, around 5000 of its undergraduates are from Glasgow, and more than 10% come from postcodes covered wholly or in partly by Glasgow North East.
The university's Caledonian Club also helps mentor pupils at the constituency's two main schools, Springburn Academy and All Saints Secondary.
Paul Martin, Labour MSP for Springburn, said: "This kind of snobbery is outrageous.
"Why is this man coming into our part of Glasgow and belittling the people here?
"Not everyone in life gets the chances that Mr Kerr did of going to a 500-year-old elite institution.
"Saying that our local university doesn't have a reputation to damage is an insult to the students, the staff, and all the local people in schools here that aspire to continue studying when they leave school."
A spokeswoman for Glasgow Caledonian said: "Widely recognised as one of the UK's most innovative and dynamic universities, Glasgow Caledonian delivers top quality learning, teaching and applied research. We are extremely proud of our reputation, and of our students, staff and graduates."
A BBC source said Kerr was always seen as "a bit arrogant" by colleagues. "He thinks other people aren't as intelligent as he is."
The by-election has been caused by the resignation of Michael Martin as Speaker and an MP.
The SNP launched its campaign in Dennistoun yesterday, where Kerr urged Labour to hold the by-election within weeks.
If the government fails to move a writ for an August poll before the parliamentary recess on Tuesday, the by-election will be delayed until October or November.
